Mission StatementHitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2) is dedicated to cancer prevention. Through the offering of community events and services, we raise awareness and funds for community cancer prevention education, early detection/screening services, and survivor and patient support.

Multi-Media CommentsWe love taking pictures at all the events and services. HCB2 website has many more!

Leadership

CEO/Executive Director Melinda M Conklin

Board Chair Tim S Murphy

Board Chair Company AffiliationHCB2

Contact Information

Address13801 Turtle Hill Road

Midlothian, VA 231124101

Telephone804 334-0575

Fax804 xxx-xxxx

E-mailinfo@HCB2.org

History and Background

Year of Incorporation2013

Financial Summary

Projected Revenue$75,000.00

Projected Expenses$73,000.00

Additional Documents

HCB2 was established as a 501(c)3 in April of 2013, and granted solicitation permit in May of 2014. We have been granted approval for sales tax exemption.

Statements

MissionHitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2) is dedicated to cancer prevention. Through the offering of community events and services, we raise awareness and funds for community cancer prevention education, early detection/screening services, and survivor and patient support.

Impact

HCB2 was established as a 501(c)3 in April of 2013. In the first two years, we were able to raise over $62,000.00 for colorectal cancer research, education and advocacy, and donate $39,400.00 of the funds for local efforts in cancer prevention.

Our goal for 2017 is to expand our services, and to extend our "Eat Clean, Get Screened" message to educate the community about colorectal cancer early detection and the importance of nutrition as a first line of defense against cancer. HCB2 wants to break down the barriers to colorectal cancer screening and provide current information about restorative nutrition which helps in the fight against cancer.

Needs

HCB2 currently needs additional Board members with experience in nonprofit growth and development. In addition, we need a foundational streamline of funding to be able to offer more services and events to targeted populations such as the under/uninsured patients, high school students, women-only groups and survivors. A final need is for HCB2 to reach the corporate community for financial support and for assistance in spreading cancer prevention educational messages.

Background

Melinda Conklin, the founder and now executive director, lost her husband of 20 years to colorectal cancer in January of 2011. Melinda (Mindy) Conklin, envisioned the ability to offer special events and services which would create awareness about cancer prevention. Rich Conklin shared his wife’s vision which he documented in the last letter he wrote to her, “I realize that I can only do so much and that I need to pray and listen to what God has to say. I hope God’s plan allows us the chance to help others. If not together, I know you will.” The organization was created based on the experiences Mindy and Rich shared while Rich battled colon cancer. HCB2 was built out of love and pain - we want to prevent cancer from taking any more of our loved ones.

CEO Statement

It was through love, prayer and support from family that Hitting Cancer Below the Belt, Inc. took shape and became an entity in 2013. Within one year, the organization reached thousands of community members with information about the importance of clean eating, knowing your family history and the GI issues and symptoms that must be discussed with a doctor. Additionally, HCB2 focuses on dismantling the fears and misconceptions about colorectal screening and informs the community about screening options.

HCB2 can accomplish all this by the hard work and dedication of a small group of volunteers. With different events and services being offered, volunteers use their diverse talents to support the work of HCB2. Many survivors have found HCB2 to be an outlet to give back to others and give cancer a 'below the belt' punch by being involved in the planning of events and services. HCB2 raises the level of conversation about a disease that many do not want to talk about. It's time to talk about colon cancer, save lives through encouraging early detection, and have a little fun educating the community.

Board Chair Statement

Speaking for the President, Tim Murphy, I can speak to the numerous successes and challenges Hitting Cancer Below the Belt has faced. Thus far, the organization's successes can be attributed to the sheer passion exhibited by the founder, board members and volunteers. The contacts established in the medical community have been the major source of financial sponsorship for the events conducted by HCB2 to date. Our collaboration with the medical community has allowed us to provide screenings for the under and uninsured. The challenge now is sustainability. To grow the organization so as to reach more community members, HCB2 is challenged with a limited operational staff. Our challenge will be to develop a strong core of operational staff who are able to support HCB2 with their expertise, energy, and creativity. The board members comprise a diverse panel of expertise with the passion to govern the organization so HCB2 will now be working on developing the operational side of the nonprofit.

Funding is key to the survival of any entity. This is especially true in the case of a non-profit organization. Event sponsorship and participant fees can only provide a limited income. In order for this organization to grow and carry out its mission to its fullest potential, private and corporate donations are needed. Melinda's desire to fulfill the promise to her late husband to find a way to strike out against this terrible disease is being kept, but it is only just beginning. There are many more ways that HCB2 can keep up the fight. Board members volunteer to serve in order to ensure, not only the survival of Hitting Cancer Below the Belt, Inc., but to see it flourish in order to serve our community and beyond. They have recognized the importance of being a part of of something that will create and sustain a conversation about a disease that is preventable and treatable. HCB2 is doing just that, and needs the support of the community it is serving.

Areas of Service

Areas Served

Area

Metro Richmond

Hitting Cancer Below the Belt is currently reaching and serving the metro Richmond community including the city of Richmond. We have also been collaborating with the VDH, ACS, and other large stakeholders to increase screening rates across the state of Virginia.

The tables below contain information about other groups that advise this nonprofit on operations and projects.

Comments

HCB2 became a 501(c)3 in April of 2013. The organization was able to establish a governing board in January 2014. The challenges we face are indicative of developing and growing a nonprofit organization. Some of the board members work as volunteers, others offer their expertise for pro bono, while others utilize their connections to help spread the HCB2 message and inform potential stake holders about our mission. Each board member is involved in growing HCB2's visibility within the community. HCB2's main challenge is maintaining a pool of volunteers to help at our various events, activities, and services. We address this challenge using all media avenues (newsletter, website, facebook, direct emails) to inform the community about the HCB2 volunteer needs.

Executive Director

Executive Director Melinda M Conklin

ExperienceAs the founder and Executive Director of Hitting Cancer Below the Belt, the personal experience I shared with my husband during his battle with colorectal cancer is deeply rooted in the mission of HCB2. I lacked the knowledge of prevention strategies that HCB2 now targets which could have saved the life of my husband. Noticing others also shared the same lack of knowledge has given me the direction - losing my husband has given me the energy. My experience for the position of ED comes from what I learned from cancer, and noticing the lack of information and the misconceptions about colorectal cancer.

Senior Staff

Name

Title

Sarah Orr

Operations Manager

Staff

Full Time Staff1

Part Time Staff1

Volunteers15

Contractors0

Retention Rate100

Plans

Organization has a Fundraising Plan?Under Development

Organization has a Strategic Plan?Under Development

Years Strategic Plan Considers4

Date Strategic Plan AdoptedJan 2016

Management Succession Plan?No

Organization Policy and ProceduresUnder Development

Nondiscrimination PolicyNo

Whistleblower PolicyYes

Document Destruction PolicyYes

Directors and Officers Insurance PolicyYes

Collaborations

HCB2 has collaborated with several medical groups within the Richmond area to offer events and services. MEDARVA, Bon Secours, and Colon & Rectal Specialist consistently lend support to the efforts of HCB2. No long-term formal agreements nor contracts have been made with these medical organizations.

In addition, HCB2 works with the VDH and the ACS to plan meetings and events across the state in an effort to educate communities and health systems about the importance of colorectal cancer screening.

DescriptionThe 5K event raises awareness and funds for colorectal cancer prevention. Proceeds of the event benefit the community prevention education, early detection services, and support for patient and survivors.

DescriptionHCB2 collaborates with Crossroads Art Center to highlight the importance of knowing one's family history, or genes, to prevent cancer. Artists use donated blue jeans as a canvas to create pieces of art. The blue jean denim art is then auctioned to raise money for HCB2's work in colorectal cancer prevention.

DescriptionHCB2 collaborates with MEDARVA and local GI doctors and nurses to offer 30 free colonoscopies to the under/uninsured population each year. This service benefits Access Now which assists the uninsured population with specialty medical care.

Population ServedHomeless

Budget$5,000.00

Short Term Success

Lives will be saved by offering the colorectal screening to a population who is unable to afford the procedure.

Thousands of dollars will be saved by the coordination of this program.

DescriptionHCB2 offers a basket of restorative nutrition to cancer patients and survivors. This program began in December 2015 and we were able to deliver 15 baskets throughout 2016. Quality nutrition is the first line of defense in preventing cancer or cancer reoccurrence.

DescriptionStrike Out Cancer is a awareness raising event targeting the millennial population. With colorectal cancer diagnosis rising in the younger population, HCB2 invites rival high schools to compete on the lanes to raise funds and awareness to colorectal cancer prevention. The students and faculty are presented with educational material and students are encouraged to take home information to discuss with their parents who are most likely at the age to receive a routine colonoscopy. A win-win for students, faculty, and parents.

Population ServedAdolescents Only (13-19 years)

Budget$3,000.00

CEO/ED/Board CommentsThere are many opportunities to reach out to specific populations within the Richmond community to educate about colorectal cancer prevention. The challenge is to find a stream of revenue that will support each endeavor. HCB2's vision for 2017 depends greatly on securing a funding stream to operate a small staff which could be a large voice and source of education and encouragement to prevent the country's second cancer killer. Currently members of the HCB2 board are researching grant opportunities as a source of funding while HCB2 relies on each event to support current operations.

In HCB2's first year, 2013, we offered two events: the Boxer Brief Battle 5K and Teeing Off on Cancer. Between the two events, we raised over 57,000.00 and donated 39,400.00 of the money. Our expenses were few and no salaries were paid. In 2014, we created a larger board and the Executive Director was hired. The 2014 budget is attached for review.

HCB2 began to expand in 2014. The first quarter Treasurer's report is attached above for review. A past financial challenge has been setting up our accounting system; however, we are ready to complete the full 990 for 2016. We work with a limited budget yet we are working to create a strong infrastructure in which to build a larger more impactful organization.

Foundation Comments

Financial information obtained from the Form 990.

If an organization has gross receipts less than $200,000 and total assets at the end of the tax year less than $500,000, it can choose to file Form 990-EZ.